Here’s a teaser: “I had written essays on Madonna when I was in high school, horrified because my ideas of empowered women were Siouxsie Sioux and Exene Cervenka. I was already a massive music fan and felt confused by Madonna’s brazenly sexual image (and unshaven underarms) in combination with her music, which I considered, at the time, totally useless fluff.”

GNZ, I don’t think your version captures how the US is seen, and the difference that makes. If the US is seen as a ruthlessly aggressive nation that has violence and racism at home, Madonna’s little piece may have seem quite offensive. It might have seemed like Bernie Madoff lecturing the court on giving more to charity. E.g., really outrageous.